This is what we all knew was coming folks...

This is our call to arms.

We need to listen to Mary Beth Cahill and donate to Kerry...

The Bush Campaign has violated every standard of decency by attacking John Kerry's military service. When it comes down to it, this is an attack on all veterans, soldiers and their families. And so we're asking for help from all Americans to hit back now:

https://contribute.johnkerry.com

RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and Bush Campaign Manager Ken Melhman are running an ugly smear campaign on John Kerry's service in Vietnam. We've seen this before. In 2000 they ran a "whisper campaign" against John McCain, suggesting his time as a POW made him unfit for the Presidency. Then in this campaign, their surrogates have even questioned Max Cleland's war heroism -- a man who received a Silver Star and lost three limbs in the Vietnam War.

The fact is they're terrified of running against John Kerry's war record. And so they're desperately doing everything they can to try to tear it down.

We need to hit back, and hit back hard to get out the truth. We've learned that the Bush Campaign will say and do anything in the attack ads they're running in key swings states. We've simply got to be able to counter them. And we can only do that if supporters keep contributing to our campaign at the record-setting levels we saw last month.

Give us the means to hit back. Contribute now:

https://contribute.johnkerry.com

As a young man, John Kerry volunteered for two tours of duty in Vietnam. He risked his life while trying to save the lives of others. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star for going above and beyond the call of duty. He was injured three times in battle and received three Purple Hearts. The story Melhman and Gillespie are desperately trying to push is that John Kerry was not injured badly enough to receive one of his Purple Hearts. It sounds incredible, but that's the attack they're pushing: Not injured badly enough.

You'd think this would backfire on its own. But most Americans are not familiar with John Kerry's Vietnam record. If all they hear is the Bush smear campaign in the press -- shady allegations and "questions raised" -- then the Bush Campaign's underhanded tactics will work.

Help us fight back by contributing above. And if you're a veteran, John Kerry wants to know and asks you to join Veterans for Kerry right now:

http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/veterans.php

Thank you,

Mary Beth Cahill
Campaign Manager, John Kerry for President